“Lisa, Get a REAL Job!”
Geez, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that in the last 5 years…
This post was inspired by comments I’ve received over the years about not having a real job, and a few e-mails from “Netpreneur” hopefuls who receive earfuls of doubt from family and friends regarding making a living online.
It still amazes me that in 2010 Internet marketing doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Some people are old fashioned and will never accept that it’s actually possible to earn a good, honest living outside a cubicle.
However, in their defense, most people don’t know anyone personally making a living online, so it is somewhat understandable why many heads are filled with doubt and skepticism.
For the sake of this post I will be referring to my old 9 to 5 job (Web Production Analyst) as my “real job” and my Internet biz as my “fake job.”
“Real Jobs Pay Overtime”
I often think back to that “real job” and how many days I spent one, two or even three hours working overtime and never got paid for it because I was a salary employee.
Compare that to my “fake job” today where I spent an extra 15 minutes adding/adjusting some Google ads on my site and earned an additional $1,000 for the month.
“Real Jobs Give Salary Increases”
When I quit my “real job” in 2006, my salary was actually 4% LESS than it was than when I was hired (4 years prior) due to budget cuts, etc. None of our raises ever caught up with the pay cuts.
At my “fake job”, I haven’t had a decrease in my earnings since 2001. *knock on wood*
“People Work Harder at Real Jobs”
At my “real job”, I worked 40 hours per week, but I wonder how many of those 40 hours were spent chit-chatting at the water cooler, surfing the web and taking long lunch breaks. Hmmmm……
At my “fake job” there are many days where I easily put in 15 hours of work. I’m positive my total number of actual work hours for the week are far greater than any “real job” I’ve had.
Not to mention weekends. Technically, I don’t have many days off anymore (by choice, of course) and have the wear and tear on my arm muscles to show for it. (Yes, I’m still dealing with the typing strain injury from a year ago.)
I won’t bore you with too many statistics and numbers, but if I totaled up the hours I worked on my websites while I still had my 9 to 5 job, your head would probably spin. It was pure craziness, but well worth it now that I look back on it.
“Real Jobs Offer Security”
Countless people encouraged me to stay with my “real job” for security. Let’s see. I dodged about 4 rounds of layoffs over the course of 5 years and never knew when the next round was around the corner. Yeah, real secure. And I won’t even go into the future of pensions and social security.
At my “fake job”, I can now live on my residual income alone (thanks to SiteSell and domain reselling.) So if my sites ever died, I’d still have some sort of backup.
How many “real jobs” do you know that still pay you indefinitely if you quit or get laid off?
To Sum it Up…
I spend way more hours on my websites than I ever did at any 9 to 5 and make way more money. But because I’m not hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock, getting up every morning with the chickens, and fighting rush hour traffic, some say it doesn’t count as a real job.
Sounds silly, I know, but many people feel this way.
Have people in your life tried to discourage you from doing Internet marketing full time because it’s not a “real job”? Remind them that any form of work that is legal and makes enough money to pay your bills is a real job no matter what form it comes in.
Don’t Pour The “Hater”ade Just Yet
When I write posts like this, it’s inevitable that at least one person will say, “Lisa, people are just hating/jealous.” While that may be true in some cases, I honestly believe most of these people are just uninformed about the Internet Marketing world.
As I said earlier, very few people know anyone personally making a good living online. So they might be oblivious to the work that is actually involved, and it’s easy to write it off as “wasting time” or “playing around.”
Not everyone is hating. Some people just haven’t witnessed enough (or any) real examples of people making worthwhile money online.
Quick Note: I know that many of you may be happy with your 9 to 5′s and/or have no intentions of working online full time. This type of career is not for everyone and certainly has its disadvantages.
This was just to address those who still don’t believe that Internet marketing is a real job. Quite frankly, that statement is an insult to those of us who have put in the hours to make it happen and love what we do.
Nevertheless, this is by far the most fulfilling work I’ve ever had in my life, and I hope to never have a “real job” again. 
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Hi, My name is Lisa and I'm a full-time affiliate marketer who has been blessed enough to earn a living online since 2006. 
Hi, my name is Lisa Irby and I'm the owner of 
Helo Lisa,
I am new to your site, but hope you can help me get started in my online business venture. I just left a Gov. job for a small intity, I was only there for 3 years, but because of my responsibilities I became the 2nd highest on the payroll (sallary). Because my kids are raised I have no dependents, so the government had a blast with over 50% of my wages. I hope with self employment, assisted by the web. I can get away from giving my hard earned money to wasteful spenders.
In my experience, i’ve learned that the world is brimming with naysayers, dream killers, and non believers. I agree with your assertion that people simply haven’t been exposed to enough succesful people within this field to be open to it as a viable option, to a degree; the problem I see lies in the fact that people tend to have this mentality whenever they see others attempting to go anywhere off the beaten path.
Generally speaking, if ones goal doesn’t exist in the realm of a “normal” 9-to-5, the reaction of most people is doubt, disbelief and discouragement. I’ve had friends literally tell me they hoped one of my businesses would fail so that I would go back to a “regular” job, and even prayed that it would fail because going into business for yourself is greedy. I’ve had friends discourage me from leaving one job to go to a better one with better benefits and higher pay.
I know someone who worked less than 12 hours a week stocking shelves who was unhappy with his hours (wanting more) who wouldn’t leave to another store offering full time work because in his words, “I’d have to start from the bottom again”. I mean, HELLO, YOU STOCK SHELVES AT CVS PHARMACY!! YOU’RE ALREADY AT THE BOTTOM!!
I don’t tell these (true) stories to belittle anyone who stocks shelves, but to illustrate the point: people are scared, and they project their own fears onto others who are unafraid to step outside their comfort zone. I don’t think hating plays a role here, in my humble opinion it’s simply fear. Even when you become successful in your venture, there are people who simply won’t get it or like it.
I really like your article about Making Money. I want to make internet into my real job. How do I make it happen?
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I have a full time job to work in a home office and moonlight part time writing articles for extra cash. And people like you inspire us to continue working at home as the opportunities are limitless.
The internet has opened up to a whole new realm of making money online with very successful people doing pretty well.
Hi Lisa, just wanted to say keep up the good work, and remember the naysayers just want to be where you are but don’t have the courage to go after their own dreams, you inspire me!
I should also considering getting a real job, so that I am not always in the computer doing SEO stuff, I need some exercise too.
Hi Lisa, Im a new visitor and just want to thank you for your contribution of wisdom and experience to those of us looking to dive into the internet business. I’m an individual who spends time on the internet (posting vids on youtube, and blogging) but I have received any major traffic. Thanks to you I realize where my flaws are. My quality and my content. Im independent entertainer (ventriloquist,poet,actor) but I realize that I have had much success when it comes internet success. I now look in the mirror and understand what needs to be done.
typo*** i HAVEN’T received any major traffic.. because I’m basically posting basically personal stories. when I’m basically a no name…
Real jobs with real companies also shut down. Rather keep your real job and start something part time to insulate yourself against financially crippling times.
I love this article, you make a very good point thanks for the information and also the inspiration.
hi Lisa.it’s my first time to read your article.glad to see you find what you really love to do. there is no doubt you are lucky.it will be relaxed and happy for you to do the job if you are interested in it. hope you could share more about this in the future.i wish to learn more from you .
Lol. Its so good to read this post. U got really good logic thinking and u talk with facts. I like that and i am agree with you! I am working online and offline too. If i can reach more goals in future probably i will quit my job but now it is giving me secure, yeah.
Kind regards
John